though i am not a fan of the new years' celebration, i am however a fan os lists! of any kind! yes, even the shopping list, and the one i keep on a post-it of the bills i have to pay... i love lists! and no matter how people find it wierd, it keeps me sane! so, as i was saying i am a fan of lists and there is no surprise that people get to the end of the year an make one, even if only mentally, of what they wish for/plan for/want/need/will do in the year ahead. though i have many projects and many ideas i won't share them here, for i have the need to keep them mine for a bit at least, but i o have a few things i'll share.... i'd like the year of 2013 to be more friendly, yes, friendly, as in with more friends around. i'd like my friends to not be so lazy and so scared their kids will get sick, or that it's cold outside. i wish my friends a breath of fresh air, plans outside at the park, brunches on early cold mornings with a view, lunches with the children at a museum or close, plans of travelling to visit a new town though it might be freezing there. i wish for a year full of plans, big, small, of tiny, but with plans, with outings, with playdates, with dinner parties and birthdays. i wish for my friends to be a bit more let go and go with the flow. i wish for myself to be more insistent, to be more assertive and to stop talking to anyone who says no!!. i'd like 2013 to be a year of planning ahead, although i make lists i have had a had time sicne they were born to plan aheas and stick with it, mostly not because of me, but them really. i can't predict sick days, or rain or bad moods so it seems like there is always something changing my plans for me, an sometimes that makes me too distracted, too head-in-the-clouds and apparently makes me look lazy to some people. anyway, i'm hoping my new agenda helps! and babies becoming children too!. i'd like 2013 to be sunny! no matter how long our fake winter will be that the sun always shines, because amonst all the fear/stress/panic for the tough year ahead, if the sun shines i'm thinking that vitamin D will help. my artist aunt always said "if it's sunny, or you're wearing pink, you'll be fine"... i'm always dressed in pink! ;). i'd like 2013 to be the year i go back to my cooking ocnstantly, probably i won't constantly but i really want to and i've been a bit put off after so much worrying about the boy's food. their first foos put me a bit off thinking of pots and pans so i let go of it... now and then i try but then all the clean-up, and still all the other stuff i have to do... but i now have a list (yes, yet another one) of things i want to taste and i'm hoping i make them myself. i'd like 2013 to be a year full of music, we need to dance more and learn songs together, even if it means for dad to learn our home version of "i threw the stick to the cat" (don't ask) and us learning all the lyrics of linkin park!today i'll stay with 5 wishes... not bad!

not a fan... of new years'! there, i said it! i have a million problems with that night, to wait a whole year for those last 12 seconds to make a fast wish list (i've once wished for socks!) that should be indeed a list of goals for the new year of your life... i make that one on my birthday which is something to celebrate. new years takes 5seconds to pass and after 20minutes everyone is either quiet watching a movie on the couch or just drunk, either way it's boring and i have a tendency to hate boredom. right now i am enjoying the thought of this 4 day long weekend and hopefully the weather stays like this, rainy but sunny. we've taken walks, rides and enjoyed a well deserved holiday together, the kids have grown (the tantrums are so much more mature, no more crying, just screaming!) and i'll be able to get all my debts payed before the 31rst! you shouldn't start a year with debts i say...!new years' eve will be a very homy one, with friends and theirs kids over for a looong pizza party, but i'll let you know more before then. if you don't mind i'll go an sit in front of the tv and listen to this amazing silence around me with only the voices of the characters of whatever movie i can find, i'll take anything!

things i've learned this xmas... i've learned that though i believe children shouldn't have millions of presents, i absolutely love their smiles when they open so many!i've learned that though we shouldn't spoil them, others will and i have to let them enjoy iti've learned that though i spend all year controlling their sugar levels, i shouldn't on xmasi've learned that though xmas is much more than presents under the tree, there i no describing how happy i get with their giftsi've learned that because times are harder we shouln't always feel scared of the future for these boys live on our smiles and we have to make it perfecti've learned that because these boys are so lucky and so spoiled i am able to put aside every year a few toys in great condition for other kids. i've learned that i am no longer in posession of the tv on xmas day from this year on...i've learned that we are happy and they love us because we make a few dreams come true... theirs, ours and other children who will smile too.

it's a quick post 'cause we're running out the door to this idea 22! the xmas village in sintra! here's a little sneek peak with this photo and a link to leanr more. i'm very excited about having the boys see santa, though i never actually thought of him until i was 10. to me it was always baby jesus who ruled the xmas spirit at out house, and i am keeping it that way... but santa's santa!

i couldn't possibly let this pass by without a word. today's idea is to get your last xmas presents taken care of, so you can enjoy the weekend amongst your family and friends and visits to santa! this time the xmas sale is in the actual studio of Atelier da Tufi, which opens it's doors of that high third floor for all to see what goes on behind our adorable products. the messiness, the caos, the scraps of fabric and paper and the tiny troops of figurines are all the to be seen at different stages of work, waiting for us to redo them and make everything cute. between 12pm and 20pm we'll be waiting for you. info on image.

don't forget those whose birthday is in december, close to xmas but still deserve a day of their own! i swore i wouldn't do this, but it's stronger than me... he's out there in every lisbon corner and who can't help but stare?! a part from the hair... tell me it's not just me!!

put some music on! make some noise and have fun! 8 days until christmas eve and nothing beats singing a long until then! my favorite is any song with a disney character, i love mickey, donald, pinocchio, snow white and all the dwarfs. i love the princesses and even the evil ones too. i love disney christmas!

today's idea is simples and hasn't started yet... the HORA DO CONTO (story hour) at the Oficina Colectiva in the s.catarina neighborhood. it's for children but parents can enjoy the portuguese design exhibition TOMA, EMBRULHA while they listen to the story. xmas is such a wonderful time for new stories...

today is xmas tree day! after the 13th it's time for xmas overload!! we will put everything together, tree, lights and breakable decorations and the star on top... the boys will wake up tomorrow to a bright xmas tree! and will be decorating it with their own xmas decorations i have collected these past 3 xmases, counting the one i was pregnant. i have bought at least two for each each xmas and i hope one day they'll take them with them into their own houses... it's xmas time!

to finish off an amazing beautiful sunny birthday this is what i found specially made for me... by who loves me deeply and makes me so happy. (i had nothing to do with this, they made it for me because they really love me...)

* onde fica o vosso atelier/estúdio/loja? como vão para lá? | where is you studio/shop? how you get there?
trabalhamos no conforto do lar (risos).. é um atelier "doméstico"... e digamos, itinerante. foi fundado num sótão onde mantemos a nossa base e as nossas velhinhas máquinas de costura. é o lugar dos momentos mais criativos, das experiências e das discussões mais empolgantes. lá preparamos e cortamos os tecidos que ficam guardados juntamente com linhas, fitas, fechos, acessórios... lançadas as colecções trabalhamos diariamente, sempre juntas, ora em casa de uma, ora em casa de outra, em ambientes mais tranquilos, luminoso, limpinhos! (risos) e inspiradores. como as máquinas são portáteis, vamos alternando conforme o tipo de tarefas e estado de humor do projecto. ah, e vamos de carro, com tudo atrás, incluindo bebés. | we work in the confort of our home (laughter)... it's a domestic studio... and let's say portable. it was founded in an attic where we keep our base and our old sewing machines. it's the place of the most criative moments, experiences and discussions. it's where we prepare and cut our fabric which are kept next to threads, zippers and accessories. once a collection is launched we work daily, always together, sometimes at our houses, or in quieter environments, light and clean! (laughter)... and inspiring. because our sewing machines are portable we alternate where we work depending on our chores and humour of the project. ah... and we drive, with everything in our cars, including babies.

* o que vêem da janela da vossa loja/estúdio? | what do you see from your shop/studio window?
ultimamente temos passado mais tempo em casa da fi. das janelas deste primeiro andar vemos as fachadas restauradas dos edifícios em frente e, quando espreitamos lá para baixo, as pessoas a ir e a vir da estação do comboio, as estátuas de pedra muito quietas, o polícia que está sempre à porta o minipreço... mas o que mais nos agrada aqui é a luz de norte que entra pelas janelas e sacada. não aquece mas é linda e óptima para trabalhar. quando estamos em casa da i, a vista da janela do 12º andar perde-se. o horizonte está muito longe e vê-se o mar. | lately we have been spending more and more time at fi's house, and from the windows of this first floor apartment we see the buildings in front, and if we look down, we see people going to and from the train station, the statues still as can be, the policeman standing everyday in front of the minimarket... mas what we love most is this north light that comes in through the windows. it's not warm but it's beautiful and great to work with. when we're at i's house, the view is completely different from that twelfth floor and you get lost. the horizon is so far away, and you can see the ocean.

* tomam café e manhã? como é o vosso café? | do you take coffee in the morning? how's your coffee?
claro que sim! antes de sair de casa e logo que nos juntamos. bebemos café instantâneo sempre em chávenas de chá muito chiques. que contradição (risos)!... mas fazemos questão de usar no dia-a-dia as peças melhores e mais bonitas que temos para dar mais significado a cada momento. são os pequenos prazeres da nossa vida muito agitada. mas embora partilhemos desta mesma regra, gostamos do nosso café de maneira diferente (a i junta sempre leite, e a fi bebe café simples, super forte) | of course! before we leave our houses and when we meet to work. we drink instant coffee always in very elegant tea cups, what a contradiction (laughter)!... but we make it our thing to use objects in our daily life that are beautiful and the best we have to give more meaning to each moment. it's the little pleasures in ours lives. but though we share the love for coffee, we take it very differently (i always adds milk to it, and fi drinks it simple and very strong)

* o que gostam mais do vosso trabalho? o que as põe mais à prova? | what you love best about your work? what is most challenging?
tudo! é um prazer e um desafio constante. empenhamo-nos muito e o nosso maior desejo é transmitir o amor com que fazemos cada objecto. queremos que sejam todos igualmente lindos, desejáveis mas sempre práticos e úteis. fazemos tudo com doses equivalentes de emoção e lógica e nunca lançamos nenhum produto que não nos satisfaça a 100%. se temos dúvidas, quer em termos estéticos como técnicos, pensamos, estudamos, experimentamos, perguntamos, temos insónias, fazemos tudo, até olharmos para o resultado e esboçarmos "aquele sorriso". | everything! it's a pleasure and a constant challenge. we do our best and our biggest wish is to be able to transmit our love for what we do in each object. we want all of them to be beautiful, and desired, but always practical and useful. we do what we do with equivalent portions of emotion and logic and we never launch a product that we're not 100% sure about. if we're in doubt, be it in terms of esthetics or techique, we think, study, experiment, ask and even get insomnia... we do it all until we can look at it and give "that smile".

* como aprenderam a fazer o que fazem? | how did you learn your craft?
por transmissão familiar. ambas herdámos as nossas primeiras máquinas de costura (a fi a irmã mais velha, e a i do avô que a ganhou num sorteio de rifas da igreja). a fi começou mesmo muito cedo, e as suas criações carnavalescas atingiram mesmo elevados níveis de sucesso (risos). o aperfeiçoamento surgiu com a vontade de fazer o "enxoval" do bebé e depois com as necessidades, dificuldades, e oportunidades deste projecto que decidimos pôr em prática nesta fase das nossas vidas. para além de muita inspiração, trouxe-nos o tempo que nos faltava. como não encontrávamos muitas coisas com as quais nos identificássemos, e fazer escolhas entre os artigos para os quartos dos nossos bebés e acessórios que estavam disponíveis era muito difícil... | by family inheritance. we have both inherit our old sewing machines (fi from her big sister and i from her grandfather who won it at a church auction). fi started much earlier, and her carnival creations got great reviews! (laughter). the aim for perfection came from wanting to make our own baby clothes and accessories, and then from necessity, dificulties and oportunities in life. besides inspiration, it brough us the time we didn't have in our lives. and chosing between what we saw that we didn't really identify with, was getting to be very hard.

* o que é a ifilab? | what is ifilab?
já explicámos um pouco a atmosfera que rodeia o nosso "laboratório", mas agora resumir não vai ser fácil. é algo que nos entusiasma tanto que podíamos falar durante horas... é sobretudo um lifestyle, uma experiência de vida traduzida em objectos utilitários relacionados mas não apenas, com a maternidade. como partilhamos no nosso blogue, e esse é um dos principais objectivos, a partilha de felicidade e inspiração, o nome diz tudo: o ifi LAB é um "laboratório" onde fazemos "lovely accessories for babies". | we've explained a bit about the atmosphere that surrounds us in our "lab", but to resume this isn't easy. it's something that excites us so much that we could go on for hours about it... it's mainly a lifestyle, a life experience translated in useful objects related, but not only, with maternity. like we share in our blog, this is one of the main goals, to share happiness and inspiration, the name says it all: ifiLAB is a "lab" where we make "lovely accessories for babies".

mas nada melhor que uma visita ao LAB para no acompanhar e ficar a saber mais... nothing better than visiting the LAB and get to it know it better...

who ever said xmas had to be only in red, green, gray or white tones has never thought of this. pastel tones for a xmas dinner table setting is absolutely beautiful... i specially love the simple but gorgeous idea of having candles in old vintage teacups. it represents perfectly the feeling of peace we shold all seek to achieve these holidays.

"now that the cold is here, there's nothign better than a good, warm wool sweater to snug your soul in during these days when you feel like staying in bed all day, let alone dress up! just skinny jeans, or black leggings and cool boots and you're done!"

i am a ferm believers in artificial trees, yes i am, i have no intention of cutting trees for a month of holidays, but i also believe in trees that are somehow handmade! this year we have bought your first tree, and i bought a plastic one that looks ok, but i'm hoping to do the paper chian one with the kids on xmas eve... looking forward to.

this sunday's idea was a simple but beautiful one! a second hand mini market for moms, from moms! plus a few adorable brands... all in the name of Ajuda de Mãe who needs our help very much... from all of us. of course i was there with Atelier da Tufi and i had a blast and a great time, helping, selling and buying! i bought second hand clothes for my boys, a piece of the most amazing mouth watering chocolate cake, from Bolo de Chocolate da Rita, a gorgeous vintage cake plate from Docinho de Açucar, and i was very envious of the kids who got to play at Terra do Nunca... we talked and sold to a million different people and another few children, some even helped, right Constança? Sofia and i had fun "turning off" the lights to show off our gorgeous bunny!! ;) and i got to sign autographs to my HUGE fan club!!!! even little Afonso with his mom's help broguht me a bottle of coffee! oh it's great to have friends! i thank Ajuda e Mãe for it's wonderful work and for letting us help, thanks to Cacomae for thinking of all this and of course to Tufi who has let me discover this amazing mini new world, thank you!

i and fi say it beautifully "mums who have little time to pamper themselves but love to look great in any situation, will identify with this ifi collection. they appreciate the eternal classics but keep updated in terms of trends. they like to make a statement, specially when it comes to accessorize. in everything, they bounce between sense and sensibility" and i for one cannot agree more! why are things for babies always baby blue, baby pink and with chubby tiny animals? it's already such a big change in our lives, we should at least feel confortable with what we carry around with us. i for one am only sorry i already had a couple of children, because my next bunch with be covered in mommy's tones, colors and fabric from head to toe. i want these diaper changing bag and mat with soft vintage tones, i want fashionable blankets, i want to wrap them in super cool colours! we've said it here before, children look so cool when they dress like adults, i'm sure babies do too when their accessories match their mothers personality. ifilab has just started and it's here to stay... i hope! i have my xmas list ready for babies, mommies and moms-to-be. an interview with these amazing girls here soon! follow them here and here!

whatever your give this xmas, let it be wrapped with... love and twine! BAKERS' TWINE! simple wrapping ideas with lots of love! and twine! i just aore the idea of wrapping individual cake slices! on't you? if you're looking for twine look here, there are even special made ones for this time of year! let me see hwat you come up with!

for xmas gifts, it's not just about the gift, the wrapping and the labels also add that perfect, final/ gorgeous final touch. i keep all of the labels i get iwth my gifts, i'm just sorry not a lot of people put them on their presents, but i find them adorable and keep them every year in a notebook/agenda i have. i try to do it myself on my gifts to others an sometimes it's so hard to find some that are beautiful, and here i am. here they are. it's FREE and cute as can be. not mine but good things need to be shared!

at home we must always keep our family traditions going, specially around xmas time, which is such an ancient tradition, but always try to inovate and create something new. my kids are at the age where they absorb all things and mostly things they know are important... and also those things they shouldn't do, but anyway... every 80's child in portugal has had a chocolate calendar when growing up for xmas, i'm sure, and though my husband doesn't like the idea of me buying them still for myself, i really love them, but with our kids now, the idea is to create them ourselves and there are so many around the internet that we can "copy", print and make ourselves it's an amazing world out there! here are some of my favorite ones and i'm thinking of actually doing nº3... it's so cool! try one yourself. the idea is, like yesterday's nativity scene, to try to recycle, so use anything you'd like to print them on or glue them on. recycle, cut, print, glue and put it together! the gifts inside? i have so many ideas on that too... coins for the money bank, sweets of course, directions for a treasure under the tree (if you're good at riddles), pieces of a huge present, ideas for activities during the holidays, i don't know! so much to do! if you give it a try, please let me know!

do you already have your nativity scene on show? do you always have one for xmas time? or are you just a tree family? there are amazing nativity scenes in so many shapes and sizes it's hard to chose one each year, but i am all for traditions and in our house, my parent's house, we always had the same one next to the tree, but throughout the years have put together quite a huge collection. in my in-laws there is a massive, antique nativity scene that's grown throughout generations, my nephews/nieces love it and my kids will one day take part in it too once they stop eating things they find laying around! in our house, we really want them to take part of new traditions and we haven't found a nativity scene for display but have found a great idea do to with them this xmas. my new friend M. (i hope she realizes i'm holding on to her for a while now!) has given us this super cute idea! this image is actually from the one she made with her children and it looks adorable! it's not only easy to do, but it's a great opportunity to teach the importance of recycling! M.'s best tip is to print these in sticky paper so it's easier for kids to glue it themselves! ;) that's why i want to hold on to her!!!

a week without DIYs is a no,no! so here i am with one gorgeous, fun idea for the kid in you, or in your home! mine have now permission to decorate the walls, as long as it is with washi tape! yes, i'm obcessed! i'm now an oficial washi tape dealer and have been loving every minute of it! saturday i was at a local market selling them and it was the most popular product amongst girls, teenagers, mothers and aunts... amazing! a deer on my wall is probably not the first thing i'd remember to do but i'm already thinking a modern xmas tree wouldn't hurt! or santa! or anything really1 i'm sure the kids will love the family activity!!! i'll show you mine if you show me yours!! ;)

there are days when one idea is too little! like this 1rst of decembre. two events! this one is just a great idea for moms, for REAL MOMS! an idea for moms and their children, to honour the moms who do it all! those who are moms, who work, who create, who dream but are moms nonetheless and for whom days are much longer than 24h.

take a photo, say a phrase and make a contribution to APAV... nothing more, nothing less, a freezing morning and a sweet conforting morning snack prepared by my Let's, yours you ask? yes, mine, another big plan i have... for later.

congrats to the adorable photographers, and i really hope you keep it up, with this much enthusiasm, with these many children, with such love for your work and with these many beautiful mothers!!!

aaaaaahhh! december has begun!!! yesterday! oh my, where does time go to when we sleep, work and get exausted? i have no idea. i had big plans for this blog, in giving you an idea per day for the month of december, but apparently i have forgotten already the first day. i don't feel so bad yet, because i'm sure my first idea is something you didn't really need me to let you know. the MERCADITO DA CARLOTA was yesterday and i know, 'cause i was there, it was a HUGE success! i was there as a buyer, but mostly as a vendor! yes!! another thing i should tell you about, another day. i had a blast, meeting new people, new clients, old clients from when it was just S's project, and getting to know lots of moms and children. it was amazing and i am very very tired. but like i say "if smiling could kill, i'd be very very very dead!"

...until 22:00 when my car was robbed... but that's a minor detail for the great day i had!

i'm already very busy with my xmas shopping list and most important for me is to get the little ones taken care of. books! books, books and more books! we are addicted and addictions like these are great! it's something daddy and i look forward to, for them to grown up loving to read just like us. until they have twins of their own and that goes a bit down the drain... lol

in our house books are bought in three languages, though we read to them in only two, they are getting used to having mommy read in english as well. english is to me just another way of portuguese, which basically means i make no differentce between the two and it's been like that for ages, since i was 9 years old i have spoken, read, writen in both automatically and i hope to get that into them as well asap.

all the books i show here we have a copy of, though i've lost Frederico, not the child though, and they have been loved, read, reread one thousand times and some even eaten! the Gruffalo is an all time favorite of ours and it's come to the point of having them ask me to reat it, and while they change the pages when i say so, i'll tell the story while i do house chores, i know it by heart and absolutely love it. we even have a song and dance for it! i've even read it in three languages to make it different but they correct me if i change anything!

these are the books i recomend, but i'll soon post my actual xmas list for them and let you know what i have bought! let me know if you read to your chidlren too and what have you read to them lately, i'd love to know... and copy!

GOOD MORNING! i apologize for not knowing where i found this DIY image but if you happen to know where it's from i'd be very happy to add the link here on this post. usually i don't post images without knowing it's source but i'm having a hard time not posting this one because it's such a sweet idea for a diy, especially now that we're 30 days from christmas! so if you could help i'd appreciate it dearly.

this diy is very simple, just cut round pieces of gorgeous paper, i actually happen to love these ones, even for the festive period, who says christmas always has to be red and green? anyway, so paper circles, fold them in half, put a string around it, you can even sew them together and voilá you have a christmas ornament! it will look lovely in you tree i'm sure! the second image even shows you how to make it really fancy, but i'd be very happy with the first part! for the paper cutters if you're in pt, you can buy them here, and the papel here. good luck!

no matter what twists and turns this story makes, no matter who sleeps with whom, or who dies, or what new characters appear, i cannot seem to stop loving this tvseries. from it's first ever episode that i have been hooked, i've seen everything there is to see about it, i know the characters lives with detail and their real lives too for that matter, i've fallen in love with each and everyone of them, i've cried with them too, i've laughed and i've even gotten angry at them specially with each new actor in it, because to me they always arrive at the worst moment of the season... the beggining. but when i watch it i can't let go. yesterday i really needed to go out and get some fresh air, so i didn't watch the new season's premier "live", but i did three hours before through other means... and it was the same as it always is, i go from "NO! NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" to "WHO THE HECK ARE YOU?" and finish off with an "AMAZING!" and a tear... yes, i'm addicted to it... what about you? do you share this addictions? with any other tvseries?

tonight premiers the new season of Grey's Anatomy... tonight i have a college reunion dinner... today was the second consecutive day i stayed home with feverish children... i think i'm going to the dinner... but i'll be regretting it deeply, i'm sure...

i am so tired these days, i even thought i was coming down with something but apparently it was my motherly instinct talking, and it was really my little one having a fever. so he's on the couch while i am nurse of the day around here, in between so many other things i have to do, parties, mini-boxes, pinterest and house stuff, i can't seem to do it all... surprise, surprise!

i am secretly daydreaming of my bed right now... maybe when he falls down for his nap i'll lay down a bit too...

but before i do i have a bit of deskwork to do and while i'm trying to ocncentrate i can't keep but notice how much i like my living room, i really do, but i also can't help and think about what i'd like to still put in it, and letters always come to mind. letters everywhere! i'd love it. obivously i love As, mine, his and our letter. i love Bs for the shape they have, i also can't wait to have more of their initials, or even full names in their bedroom. and ampersands, i just love them, they're so wierdly shpe but also so much meaning in just a little line twisted over itself. i love it. what i do not like so much id full words like: love, amor, home, happy, things like that, i feel them to be too vague... but then again, maybe it's just the font you use that makes it all so different, btu that0s another thing, another addiction of mine, fonts!

this mood board is so appropriate for today, the day i realized my boys are not babies anymore... rita recomends:

"when i think about children's clothes - which happens mostly when i'm looking for gifts for my friends' children - i always arrive to the same conclusion: the nicest clothes are usually the ones that tend to look more like adult's clothing, but with a fun twist!

the theme GIRL MEETS BOY is just that: a fashionable girly princess meets a very cool boy (with that let go look that actually is more thought abotu than you'd think).

the piece that really inspired me for the GIRL look, was definitely the raincoat by Stella McCartney, which because it's diferent it allowed the rest of the outfit to be more classic. the mini-turban is to die for, it's so gorgeous! the BOY look was inspired by the red AllStars, that will look amazing with the diamond pattern cardigan - very trendy - and the cherry on top had to be the mini wayfarers!

quinoa is a bakery that i've know for a long time now. even when i had a gigantic belly from these boys i used to wake up thinking about having brunch in lisbon there. i know who from behind the counter turned this place into what it is now. everything in it is a good surprise. the atmosphere, the deco, the amazing shiny floor, the beautiful staircase. the bread, cakes and tarts are freshly made and to die for.

i went there last friday wanting a good breakfast, a habit of mine on friday mornings, and my latte macchiato was the best, the scones were a bit of a dissapointment, a bit re-warmed in the microwave... i'm sure, but nonetheless, tasty, just a bit too soft... the latte, which i can't seem to forget was divine. the perfect dose of coffee and milk, the perfect thickness and just sweet enough.

Hmade is a portuguese brand, made in portugal. they have designed this mobile phone case in cork (100% portuguese).

if like me you are desperately wodnering what to give your guy friends this xmas, this is an excelent idea! practical, cool and handmade! i already have mine and believe me it looks stunning in my purse, and it finally has the protection it deserves. visit the website and order it. i hope you like it! and pass it on...

i have no clue what's wrong with me, but i'm always cold. not outside, it's sunny outside, but at home i'm freezing! i'm wearing wool boots and thick socks and jackets with scarves... and the heaters are on!!! the kids are always trying to take their socks off, much like they're dad they are always warm... but i think i'm growing old. always cold! i'm seriously thinking i should work with mittens! i did when i lived in belgium... and this idea of putting "wool sweaters" on every hand object is just too sweet not to try! i've pinned a few of these and i'm sure i'll have it soon all over the house. looking forward to the real winter now!

márcia from bydeva!with a post about her work i couldn't not also have my little chat with who is behind such amazing things. with her answers we enter her house and find such a simple and relaxed world where beautiful things are created. Márcia is who creates while the world keeps turning!

* onde vive? de onde é? como foi aí parar? | where do you live? where are you from? how did you get there?
nasci em lisboa, vivi sempre na costa da caparica, mas há três anos mudei-me para a terra dos meus avós maternos, azeitão. gostava de poder mudar várias vezes de casa e de lugar. deve ser claustrofóbico passar uma vida num só lugar. | i was born in lisbon, always lived in costa da caparica, but i moved three years ago to azeitão, where my grandparents from my mother's side are from. i'd love to change homes and place lots of times throughout my life. it must be claustrophobic to stay put.

* o que vê da janela do seu atelier? | what do you see from your studio window?
ao contrário do antigo apartamento, de onde o meu atelier tinha toda a vista de mar e praia, aqui vejo apenas o céu e o telhado do vizinho mais próximo. | in my other house i had a beautiful view of the beach an ocean, now i only see the sky and my next door neighbor's roof.

* o que gosta mais no seu trabalho? | what do you love most about your work?
tudo! o meu trabalho não se resume apenas a uma máquina de costura, dou muito de mim e ao meu blog, preocupo-me em mantê-lo actualizado, vivo, é a partir dele que tudo acontece. a prova são as minhas peças: idealizo-as, crio-as e embrulho-as com todo o cuidado. todo este processo e criação artística deixa-me muito atenta e satisfeita. | everything! my work is not just a sewing machine. there is a lot of me in it, and on my blog, which i am always trying to keep updated, alive and it's from there that everything begins really. my pieces are proof of that: i imagine them, i create them and wrap them with a lot of care. this whole process makes me very aware, overwhelmed and satisfied.

* como aprendeu a fazer o que faz? | how did you learn to do what you do?
sozinha... com a ajuda do meu marido. | by myself ... with my husband's help.

* o que é a ByDeva? | what is ByDeva?
a ByDeva sou eu, atenta ao lado belo e simples da natureza, do campo, do silêncio, da quietude, da simplicidade de ser. a procura e aprender a cada dia, a gratidão de ter aquilo que a vida oferece e não aquilo que exigimos um dia ter. o meu trabalho apoia-se nestes princípios, neste meu modo de vida. | ByDeva is me, aware of the beautiful, simple way of nature, of the countryside, of silence, of the simplicity of being. the search and the learning of everyday and gratitude for what i have and of what life offers me and not about what i ask it to be. my work lies on these principles, on this way of life.

my name's andrea, i'm an architect by passion, mother by love, woman my calling and a gossiper by hobby! i love neon pink and brown, brownies and créme brulle, i'd live in an open air garden in the middle of town if i could... preferably in lisbon!